I like a 10' leader - but that is a personal choice. If it slaps the water too much and the end of the fly line is being pulled under the water it is too short - if you can't control it either in casting or mending it is too long. Excellent nymph fishermen I know play around with length until they get something that works for them - there is no one right answer. Similar to dry fly fishing where if it is too straight and can't get some slack on the water and get a good drift it is too short - if it has too much slack on the water and you can't set the hook it is too long. Adjust until your leader works for you.

That said, I like the slack leader constructions with a sort of stiff butt and a limper front end.

As far as Green Weenies go, I catch fish with them in PA and NY, but can't manage it in NJ or anywhere else. No idea why.

This time I'm not going to step on it. My primary leader is. 9.5' add about 2' of colored sighter and tippet gets tied to that. I use up to and sometimes more 6' level tippet. My leader starts at 30 lb. And goes down to 8lb, I use the 60% method to make it. Works well and I can cast it nice with a single size 18 tungsten bead fly if needed. I use a floating line to that so I cn switch to a dry dropper n a pinch. I can use this set up for long line and short line nymphing.

I had tried a 25lb but section and worked alright, the 30 casts better. I'm happy with that leader, I don't use the 30 ' leader much. I need to practice with it more on a place other than ffo areas. Lol

I use a floating line - generally a double taper, but a weight forward is OK. You wouldn't be casting far in any high stick nymphing so I don't think taper matters all that much. I go with DT because I think it roll casts better and that is what I have used for a long time and is a habit. I like the floating line with a slack leader because I can switch quickly to a dry or dry dropper if the fish move up.

My favorite set-up is a Greys Streamflex 10' 3 wt with a 4 wt floating DT line and a 10' leader. I can switch to dry flies pretty quickly. This works for 90% of the places I fish, but the problem is I really can't crank long casts out so if I have to switch to dries on larger water like the Delaware I can't reach some fish. Medium streams I can fish fine. At the Delaware I like a 9 1/2' 5wt Z-Axis with a WF line which has a decent length for nymphing but can reach a whole lot more fish with dries. Your style has a lot to do with outfit selection, but I generally go for softer, lighter rods unless distance makes me go to a heavier, faster set-up.

I may be looking into getin a 10; 4 wt for this style of fishing. I am now realizing it has much with feeling your flies than watching your line. Glad I started into this. I am now learning mor and more every day.

Seems that most of the US Flyfishing team are Euro-style fisherman.

Posted on: 2013/1/24 15:46

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"There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process."

I give him the leader formula and I have great success with it...Becker I agree it could be longer but I spend a lot of time in fly projects so I have to keep it under 18'...the fly line I use is the cortland compitition line, I feel it helps with having the shorter leader

attackone wrote:I give him the leader formula and I have great success with it...Becker I agree it could be longer but I spend a lot of time in fly projects so I have to keep it under 18'...the fly line I use is the cortland compitition line, I feel it helps with having the shorter leader

My post was no way directed at you. I was responding to WTT. I like a 16-20ft leader. That is just me.

Posted on: 2013/1/24 16:59

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“My mom is being eaten by a dog and there’s nothing I can do!”

20 inches of 25lb chart. amnesia to 20 inches of 20lb orange amnesia to 20 inches of 15lb chart. amnesia to tippet ring to Tippet of your choice. The color variation in the middle of your sighter rig will clue you in on a strike.